Working for the Word

Focusing the Gospel

Key words and phrases: touched his cloak, she was healed, your faith has saved you, just have faith, took the child by the hand, the girl... arose immediately

To the point: Life is flowing out of the hemorrhaging woman's body. Life has gone out of the body of Jairus's daughter. In response to their faith in him, power goes out of the body of Jesus, restoring their life. In both cases Jesus' power is passed through physical contact: the woman touches the hem of Jesus' garment; Jesus takes the hand of the little girl. Do we have the faith to touch and be touched by Jesus so that whatever is dead within us may be restored to life?

Connecting the Gospel …

… to the First Reading: God “fashioned all things that they might have being,” that is, life; whereas death reveals the power of evil at work in the world Jesus overcomes death with a healing power that brings full, abundant life.

… to experience: Medical personnel readily recognize that to be healed, an ill person must believe in the possibility of getting well and truly desire to be whole again.

**From Saint Louis University